John R Weiss wrote:

"John S. Shinal" wrote...

Cyclic ops - CTOL has long operated with tightly timed
launches and deployments - do you launch and recover CTOL a/c together
and STOVL together, but never mix types ?

For timing purposes, it shouldn't be much different than a mixed A-6 / F-4 or
F-14 / F-18A/B flight deck -- the cycle time is controlled by the shortest
endurance.

In the case of the former, there was enough organic tanker support to keep the
F-4s alive for a 1+45 cycle. In the latter case, the F-18s dominate, and normal
cycle times are reduced to 1+30 or less.

When you come to a F-18 / F-35 STOVL loadout, there could be a LOT of F-18
tankers supporting 1+30 cycles for the F-35, or the cycle times will be reduced
to 1+15 or less.

snip

Don't see why. The F-35B will have considerably more internal fuel than an F-18A-D
with similar weight, a single engine and no need for 3-5,000 lb. of recovery fuel
reserve. Marine profile mission radius (KPP) is 450nm from a 550' STO (590nm for
the USAF F-35A mission profile; 600nm for the USN F-35C mission profile), with a VL
bringback of .2 x 1k JDAMs and a pair of AIM-120s, plus reserve fuel.

Guy